BIS Library Launches E-Books

Our BIS HCMC Primary and Secondary libraries are very excited to be launching our new eBook library to students from Monday 28th November. Students will download the Destiny Discover App and log in to the library system using their school username and password. Secondary students are able to gain access to over 230 eBooks, across a range of fiction and non-fiction titles. Books may be downloaded to laptops, phones, kindles, nooks, iPads, tablets etc. An overview of the new eBook library is available on the school website.

Celebrating Year 10 Students IGCSE Awards

This week we celebrated the achievements of our Year 10 students who wrote their Mathematics IGCSE exams in Year 10, as opposed to the usual practice of writing the Mathematics IGCSE exam in Year 11. This talented group of students will then write an Additional Mathematics IGCSE exam in Year 11. Only the top Maths students at the school are selected for this course.

We also offer students who would like to take IGCSE exams in their first language the opportunity to do so when they are in Year 10. We celebrated those students in Year 10 who wrote their IGCSE exams in first language Japanese, Korean, Dutch, German, French, Chinese, Spanish and Thai.

It was very special to be able to hand their IGCSE certificates over to these students and celebrate their achievements with the students and teaching staff.

Year 12 Psychology Sleep Study

Our students clearly enjoy spending a great deal of time at school. Last Friday 43 Psychology students stayed on campus overnight to run experiments into the effect of sleep deprivation. These students have been studying the circadian rhythms, the natural sleep/wake cycle of humans and the effects of sleep deprivation as part of the IB Psychology course. Students were asked to design, plan and carry out their own experiments in order to apply their psychological knowledge in a practical way. Throughout the night the students took part in various other activities that included making a timeline display charting the origins and development of Psychology; a treasure hunt around the school and a hot air balloon debate about different Psychologists' contribution to the discipline. The night ended at 6am, a huge success, enjoyed by all despite teachers and students being a little dazed, confused and more than ready for bed. There was no doubt the evening providing a practical insight into how debilitating sleep deprivation can be!

Saigon Intermediate Mathematics Challenge 2016

A tough intermediate challenge against seven other schools from HCMC saw the two BIS Secondary teams put in a strong performance. Congratulations go to all the students who participated, with a special mention to Chae Won Oh from Year 10 who won the individual round.

Doppler Racing Formula 1 Team Goes To Texas

In September 2015 the British International School HCMC's Secondary Formula 1 in Schools Racing Team, Team Helios, set the bar by being the first ever team to represent Vietnam at the F1 in Schools World Finals. This year Team Doppler Racing represented BIS HCMC at this challenging event. Read the story of their journey to Austin Texas to take part in the event, what they learned along the way and what they enjoyed about their experience. Well done to our Year 13 students: Steve Ko, Rui Lim, Haeon Yoon, Ben Kim, and Mr Jon Ball, Design Technology Teacher, for all the hard work they put into the design, engineering and execution of this exciting project.

PTG Whole School Coffee & Cake morning

This morning many parents and teachers met up in support of ‘Thuy’s Dream’ at our whole school coffee and cake morning. It is not often that parents from all three campuses have the chance to meet up and it was lovely to share this opportunity. Thank you to the parents who donated cake, attended the event and helped to support our PTG and Community Services department. Thuy’s Dream is an NGO which supports cancer victims and their families and has a long association with BIS HCMC.

I am delighted to tell you that the sum raised this morning was VND 66,519,000. I am sure that the money raised from this event will be put to very good use and my sincere thanks go to everyone involved.

Mark Your Diary - Saturday 3 December is the BIS Christmas BISzaar

The hugely popular BIS Christmas Bazaar takes place on Saturday 3rd December from 9am to 2pm. A great opportunity to get all your Christmas shopping done in one place, browse our charity used book stall, visit with Father Christmas and eat and drink to your heart’s content. Lots of children’s activities are also available to keep the children busy while you shop.

We are still looking for helpers for the day so if you are able to help for a short time on the day please sign up here.

If you haven’t got around to clearing out your cupboards yet, we are also looking for used books for our second hand book sale, all the proceeds of which go to charity. Please send along your good condition used books - adults, children, fiction and non-fiction to the Secondary Reception. Help is also needed with new items which can be used as prizes at the tombola stall - small toys, small jewellery items, scented candles, sporting goods, packets of golf balls, coffee mugs, bags and wallets - any new items you have at home which you are not going to use will all be gratefully received.

Thank you to those parents who have started sending in their used books and items for the tombola stall.

Terry Fox Run

The Terry Fox Run takes place on Sunday 27 November. If you haven’t registered for the race registration can be completed at the event from 7am for an 8am start - Tân Trào, Tân Phú, Ho Chi Minh, Quan 7. More information is available at http://terryfox-vn.org.

Employment Opportunities for Teaching Staff

From time to time employment opportunities arise for both full time and cover teachers. If you are interested in a teaching opportunity within the school please browse our website.

U15 FOBISIA Games, Shanghai

In the words of Mr McLoughlin, Assistant Head of PE,

‘The U15 FOBISIA Games has drawn to a close and after 15 weeks of intense selection and training, we arrived home with enough medals, trophies, personal bests and memories to last a lifetime.’

I am very proud of our team whose performance and behaviour was exemplary throughout the games. As ambassadors of the school and in the field of sport the whole team were a credit to BIS. I am also very grateful to the PE team who have invested so much time and expertise coaching and preparing the team for the event. Read the diary of their visit and the games here.

Have a wonderful weekend and the best of luck to those of you taking part in the Terry Fox run on Sunday.